Cathode-ray tube voltmeter



June ,30, 1953 E. H. T. .JAcKscJNy cATHoDE-RAY TUBE voLTMETER Filed June 27, 1949 2 SheebS-Sheefl 1 E. H. T. JACKSON CATHODE-RAY TUBE VOLTMETER June 30, 1953 x Filed June` 27 1949 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2 I Zena fafa/'ence ffy@ .ZW QM A Q/man /crerf 75m-bald Patented June 30, A1953 TlfENT"oleFlfCiE f t 2,644,131 voAil/lrio'l)ERAY TUBE VOLTMTR '-Eilwaralierbort Theobald Jackson, Redhill, England Application .lunozi', 1949, So'ial No. '101,'6'28 In Great Britain lily 1, 1948 (C1. stia-'120) '2 rClaims.

This invention 'relates vto apparatus for the indication of 'potential diferences 'and by calibration for 'the'measurenento voltage.

vIn the specification 'of jniy 'copending 4United States 'patent `application 110.1798, le'd'on Janu'ary 12, 11948, 'now 'Patent 4-No. '2550;816, is de scribed Aapparel'us for the imea'surement -of an electrical quantity looiilp rising *a multivibrator, a pulse generator, 'a pulse shifter, a nshaping circuit, connections "for a'source. of 'alternating-current of Yfndarn'ental frequency, Aconnections iora source of iirect current, connections kN'for acatllode ray tubeor'tuloesalidconnections for'an input device.

"The malin object'ofthe present invention is to pr iv`idead more' simple arrangement'of the "abo-ve character -while not 'detracting from or seriously detrac'ting "from Vthe merits 'oi the 'apparatus of my aforesaid copend'ing application.

'To'that'end ll'ave'follnd that "the multivibrator referred .to above andthe gp'entod'e valve and assoelated "components 'of the input lvcircuit may be o'iitted 'from th'e `circuit loiithe :aforesaid applicationandjreplaced b'yadi-'ljerentfvalve'and associa't'eii components 'as referred to in 'more vdetail below.v Inad'dition 1 nd it advantageous lto take the synohron'isingsignal from the anodeoi a `valve referred to 'below and apply it `to :the rs't tiniebase 'of a display unit and to synchrons'easecond time-base'ircm the "first time-base, 'a third fir'ol'n the second and'so on.

'TI' have also found 'thatfar from detracting ffrom th'emelit of the apparatusa'ccor'ding to 'my l aforesaid 'copending 'application Lpy these 4m'odirlcati'ons I can improve thesensitivity'of `the "apparatus j and also itsstablility, that is to "say, Vthe relative "xing or'non-wanderingof the 'pulse in any given *position set by the signalprelectro-motive vf'or'ce requiring -vtollenfieasll'redor indicated;

rhave also ifou-nd means 'for improving the 1indexing Aon the fcathode -tube screens, as ireferred to inslmore 'detailllo'elow The invention consists in apparatus in accordancet/ithi'anyfone or more ofthe following vnum-1 beredcl'auses, that is to say: .v

Clm'Lseiii-Appareatus for the indication fof potential differences and by calibration vfor Athe measurement of voltage comprising a pulsorgenerato-r, .a :pulse isi-.liften a shaping Ycir-cllit,v connections fora source of alternating current of funda-V mental .frequency, connections for a sourceyo-f direct current and connections for an input de vice, with direct, that is 'to say,`valvless'connec4 tions vto a source of lectro-motive'iorce or potential desired 'to 'be measured 'or "nidicated'ibut with 'or "without -'the 'intermission of a Y'variable resistor;v i

"Clause 2.-Apparatus'for the indication of poi tential'- differences and -fby calibration -for the measurement-oi voltage substantially Vas 'hereinafter -Ade'scribed `with reierencetothe accompany# ing -.-fdiagrammaticfdrawings; l

` rotor ofthe blocking oscillator typo toiioprove Y 2 l Clause y3.-flplparatllsinjaccordance with Clause 1 ior Clause 2 in which 'a heptode l'a'lve"'sillosta-ntial'ly as lielaineesonloeol lsose'd in tho-primogenierator circuit;

A4Cflaltse l-Apparatus in accordance 'With any ofCla-uses -1,"2,"3"in which theiundanlentalifreqil'ency "controlling the recurrence ffrequ'ency A'of the jpul's'e phase-'shiftunit may tbe fed from any cyclicall'y varying voltagesource and can convenientlype supplied 1Afrolla one-of the-L. T. windings ci the 'power ipa-ck transformer lthroughfa suitable potential 'divider if necessary.

v'Cfltuse 5w-Apparatus 'in vaccordance with any oil Clauses *1 to 4 in which the'controlfdf the pulse ph'aseeshiftfis done iby applying thefsignal 'or E. M. to to indicated yor measured foboth to 'one orlnoreoithe gridsofajmultelectrode 2val'v of 'the first'stage;

` Clause :S1-Apparatus 'accordance vWith any of`C1aus`es 1 to 4'5, in -whicl'ra synhronising signal is taken l`'from l"the `anode 'of 'the 'valve V3 isubstantially as illustrated; t lClause 7.-App'aratus irl-'accordance with-any-of Clauses fl to f6 'in' which the time 'base *generators except 4the rstalfe Asynchronised 5from each :other msequence; v Y

:Clause -87-Apparatus inacco'rdance With 'any of Clauses l to '7 in which a :valve indicated laisVi conttrols a 'blocking oscillatortype 'of -output'cir cul ZClo/use 9.-*)Apparatu's in accordance with 'any of *Clauses 1 to 8 in which V'applying Athe joutpl'lt puise vvto 'lilo-re 'than one electrode `vof "one "or more of the indicating 1cathode ray tubes "causes increased index definition, ol'fby applying ytlii'splse t'ofcontrol "an r'independent source vof "E. F.' applied in similar manner to the display cathode ray jtubes gives increased finden 'te'i.l`l'ii',i'oIl;

fCZause 10a-Apparatus 'in' accordance with any off Clauses 1 to''9 Witllthe addition o' a Valvei'and associated components of a pulse controlled oscilthe 'indexes on fthecathode ray tubes screens;

Yf'C"I zijufs'e* 11 .+Appajratus in accordance with any of Glauses '1 to "10 in which' instead ofapplying afpuisejdirectly to thecathode"ofA a ray ftubeidispla'y lunit, it iscaused, "on-account -of pulse shape and index dennltionandbrightness; to trigger` anoscillator through a triggering Ior buffer valve," and'the'output of Avthis oscillator is fed to thfedisploy unit.

1 vReferring to drawings 'Figure -1 'illustrates one form of apparatus aooorolingtothe-present --inventionlg Y li'ig'uiee 12 is laoornipo'site liiguro, comprising series. of agraphs-or curves ion-.La ftime base vWi-thv amplitudecordinates marked for conveniencealiguresrZa, 21),2c, '2d and 2e, details of 'which iare given below." r

:.:In carrying the y:invention into eflectin ithe ltheV accompanying diagrammatic form illustrated in Figure 1, the principal parts or groups constituting the apparatus are enclosed in thick-line boundaries in which:

a is a generator of a pulse of variable duration;

b is a pulse amplifier and coupling stage;

c is a pulse shaping unit which in combination with d given phase-shift or time-delay; g

d is a source of alternating current of desired frequency forming the fundamental frequency of the apparatus; Y

6 is a source of direct current and may be that known as a power pack, or other means for rectifying alternating current or for converting alternating current into direct current;

f is an input circuit for the direct or alternating electrical quantity to be measured or indicated'j g is an output circuit.

In circuit a one pair of incoming terminals are marked l and 2 the other pair of incoming terminals are marked I8 and Il. The terminals common to circuits a and b, that is the outgoing terminals from circuit a vand vthe incoming terminals to circuit b, are marked 3 and 4. The terminalsr common to circuits b and c are marked 5 and 6. The terminals common to circuits. c and e are marked 7 and 8. The terminals common to circuits c and g are marked 8 and 9.

Although it is said that there are terminals common to two circuits they are not nor need not in fact be actual terminals but points of reference on continuous leads.

The circuits a, b and c include valves with associated electrical components such as resistors, capacitors and the like connected as illustrated. The values of these Various electrical components. depend upon the valves chosen and the values shown in the diagram are suitable for the' Valves designated. The values are not critical. The capacitor values are all in microfarads and the resistor values in ohms. The prefix K :1,000 and the prefix M :106.

The valve V1 shown in block a is known as a heptode though two of the grids as illustrated are connected inside the valve and two of the grids as illustrated are connected outside the Valve.' Such a valve, I find, has particular advantages in this circuit. Y

The valves V2 and V3 shown in block b are pentode valves. The Valve V4 of block c is a pentode valve; the valve V5 of block c is shown as a twin triode. A variable resistor maybe used atthe incoming vside of block b as indicated in dotted lines the terminals thereof being marked I2 and i3. In block c one of the Vresistors is indicated Yas an adjustable resistor. The function ofthis isto alter the height of the pulse atthe output ofV4. l find it is only necessary to have one adjustable resistor in the whole set and indeed even this if desired may be omitted.

The "operation of the apparatus is as follows:`VV n y Y Y Block d, Figure 1, is a source of alternating voltage, say of the wave-form shown in Figure 2a. This controls the recurrence frequency and the zero reference of the rectangular pulse of Variable duration generated bythe heptode valve Vi, blocka, theconnections being at terminals I and 2. The pulse shape is shownrby Figure 2b. Heptode valve V1, block a, is used with three -grid systems, one at a potential intermediate that of the cathode'and anode supplied through the resistor (50 K) and at zero A. C. potentialbymeans vof the condenser (0.1). as

shown in Figure 1. One system is at a low alternating potentialY obtainedl fromyfthe Vsource of E. M. F. of frequency f of. block d, andone system has applied to it the potential required to be indicated. The grid system nearest the cathode has the low valued alternating voltage applied to it, andY this voltage imparts rhythmic Inotion to the space charge around the cathode and will start electron flow to the anode at someY point in its positive cycle, so that this grid irnparts a cyclic rate to the output of the valve. The next grid system which has the signal potential to be indicated applied to it is the main control of electron flow and controls the duration between start and Vstop of this flow in relation to the cyclic variation of the first mentioned grid potential. The third grid system protects against secondary emission. The load resistor (5 K) in the anode circuit of valve V1 is of such value as to keep the output wave shape substantially rectangular as illustrated. The duration of this rectangular pulse is governed by the magnitude of the signal or E. M. F. to be indicated or lmeasured or both which is applied to the terminals lil and H" of block f. The fullline pulse shown in Figure 2b is for zero applied signal or E. M. F. to these terminals and the dashed-line pulses for other given Values of the applied signal or E. M. F. The rectangular pulse is amplified by the valve stage V2 of block b and coupled to the differentiating amplicr stage V4 of block c by the valve stage V3 in block b. The output wave-form of V2 isshown in Figure 2c.

While the cathode load resistor of V2 suppliesA the signal to succeeding. sections of the pulse generator the anode load resistor supplies the primary synchronizing and reference zero signal, of frequency equal to that at the terminals l and 2, to the time-base circuits of the cathode ray tube display unit. The Voutput wave-form of the differentiating amplifier containing V4, block c, is shown in Figure 2d, again as in full-line pulse for zero signal at terminals l0 andv Il and as dashed-line pulses for two` other given values of this signal. The time between its occurrence and the reference zero of the system is directly dependent upon the magnitude of theV signal or E. M. F. at the terminals l0 and Il of block f.' The differentiating amplifier produces at its output a short pulse at the terminus of each pulse generated at tube V1, which short pulse as seen in Figure 2d is phase displaced from the zero reference position according( to the signalV magnitude. Attention is called to United States Letters Patent to Christaldishowing s uch a differentiating amplier if further explanation Abe needed. This pulse is used to trigger the blocking oscillator V5 and associated components of the second part of black c, the output wave-form at the terminals 8 and 9 being shown in Figure 2e.

Now referring to Figure 1; this pulse is used to trigger or deflect or both the electron beams of a series of cathode ray tubes, such as shown by the display unit of block g. If the time-base generator of unit lc in block g be of the same frequency as the sourced and synchronised to 'it by the aforesaid signal from V3 taken at termi-' nals 8 and I6 the index on the cathode ray tube screen will take up a steady position the distance of which from the reference mark orZero will depend upon the time interv-al between occurrence of the pulse from the output terminals 8 and 9 and this reference, the reference l of block g, but where the time-base frequency,`

though synchronised to the first tme-base'generator of k: is n times that of Ic, n being a Whole number, then the index caused by the pulsed electron beam will be displaced n times the distance from the reference zero as that simultaneouslydisplayed by the unit 7c, and the sensitivity of l to a change of magnitude of the applied signal or E. M. F. at the terminals I0 and H will be n times greater. In this way a decade type of indicating dial-train may be assembled where n is made equal to ten in each successive time-base generator such as is contained in the units k, Z and m making up the display unit of block g.

By suitable choice of the values of the components of Figure l the distance of the index from the zero mark or reference can be made proportional to the magnitude of the signal or E. M. F. applied to the input terminals i0 and H and by placing a suitably divided scale adjacent to the loci of the indexes of the display unit and calibrating the device as a whole against a standardised source of voltage or primary voltage standard the instrument is not only an indicating device but an instrument for the measuration of an electrical quantity.

GENERAL Among the improvements due to the above, arrangements of the pulse phase-shift or pulse timedelay unit are:

1. The fundamental frequency controlling `the recurrence frequency of the pulse phase-shift unit may be fed from any cyclically varying voltage source and can conveniently be supplied from one of the L. T. windings of the power pack transformer through a suitable potential divider if necessary; thus the need for the multivibrator unit of United States application No. 1,798 is obviated;

2. The control of the pulse phase-shift isdone by applying the signal or E. M. F. tobe indicated or measured or both to one or more of the grids of the multi-electrode valve of the lrst stage. This greatly increases the lsensitivity of the unit. It enables one of the input terminals to be at earth potential and the valve lVs of the original circuit to be discarded. It has `also improved the stability of the device as a whole. The variable and iixed resistors in series, shown dotted in Figure 1, maybe included and used as a zeroing or positioning control of the pulse lwith respect to the zero time reference; Y

3. The synchronising signal taken from the anode of V3 as shown in Figure 1 increases stability; e

4. By synchronising the time-base generators except the first from each other in sequence increases stability;

5. By letting V4 control the blocking oscillator type of output circuit gives increased index denition;

6. By applying the outputv pulse to more than one electrode of one or more of the indicating cathode ray tubes causes increased index definition; or by applying this pulse to control an independent source of E. M. F. applied in similar manner to the display cathode ray tubes gives increased index definition;

7. The addition of avalve and associated components of a pulse controlled oscillator of the blocking oscillator type has improved the indexes on the cathode ray tubes screens;

8. Instead of applying a pulse directly to the cathode of a ray tube display unit, it has been found better, on account of pulse shape and index definition and brightness, to trigger an oscillator through a triggering or buffer valve, and the output of this oscillator is fed to the display unit. With certain types ofr time-base arrangements, for example, the linear sweep type, it has been found advantageous to apply this output to more than one electrode of one or more of the cathode ray tubes forming the display unit resulting in further improvement of index; or alternatively this pulse may be used to trigger an independent source of E. M. F. applied to the display system for index purposes.

I claim:

l. A voltage measuring device comprising means for producing a series of rectangular electrical impulses at a predetermined frequency and quency to one of said grids to produce a series of rectangular impulses at the output. of said valve oi a frequency equal to that of said alternating current signal, and means for connecting the other of said grids to the source of voltage to be measured to control the duration of the rectangular impulses produced in accordance with the applied voltage; and means connected to said impulse producing means for differentiating the rectangular impulses produced thereby to form for each rectangular impulse a pair of short duration impulses spaced in timed relation in accordance with the duration of the applied rectangular impulse, and means responsive to said short duration impulses providing an indication of the voltage to be measured.

2. A voltage measuring device as defined in claim 1 wherein said last named means includes a cathode ray tube indicating device, means responsive to the rst short duration impulse corresponding to each rectangular impulse for synchronizing said display device, and means responsive to the second short duration impulse for each such rectangular impulse for causing said cathode ray tube display device to produce an indication of the applied electricalpotential to be measured.

EDWARD HERBERT THEOBALD JACKSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jackson May 1, 1951 

